Planning Enforcement

The Planning enforcement department look into complaints about potential breaches of planning control. These might include:

unauthorised building works

untidy land

removal of protected trees

breaches of planning conditions

unauthorised changes to use of buildings or land

The Town and County Planning Act 1990 seeks to achieve a balance between freedom of landowners to use and alter their land or properties while at the same time needing to safeguard amenities from significant harm. This makes enforcement a complex area.

Our primary aim is to help achieve this balance rather than punish those who have broken regulations.

Developers and landowners are advised to make sure they have the necessary approval to undertake work before they start and not assume that they will get consent retrospectively.